Chapter Text
Katie woke up with a foreign ache in her back and the sounds of screaming just outside her house. The exact contrary to the usual, fluffy bed, and complete and utter silence throughout her old home.
She couldn't say which she liked more. This wasn't peaceful, but sometimes the silence felt louder than screaming. At least this wasn't lonely.
It only took her about 5 seconds to realize this wasn't home- or, it was, but it wasn't.
This was, by legal definition, her home. However, it wasn't how home was supposed to feel.
Home was supposed to be familiar, safe, warm. You were supposed to feel comfort in knowing which floorboard would creek under your steps.
Katie didn't know if she had ever felt at home anywhere. She didn't think that would be starting anytime soon either.
She wiped the crusted drool from the corner of her mouth and lifted herself out of bed. Awaking with the same pep as usual. The last day had been a shit show, so really it couldn't get worse!
Scrunching her face in confusion at the yelling. She peeled back the old curtains from the window. A puff of dust surges from the curtains, to what feels like, straight into her lungs.
She attempted to cough out the dust, waving a hand through the air to dissipate the dust cloud.
She stared through the window, it took her just a moment to notice Quackity, who seemed to be amused by all the yelling. Her eyes then trailed to who he was looking at.
Oh! It must be her neighbor! A seemingly furious man, wearing a business suit. She couldn't exactly make out the words he was spewing in his fit of rage. Yet, it was easy to tell he wasn't exactly pleased about her moving into the home next door.
Of course, Katie found no issue in that! She was a natural charmer (even if she is still the only person who seems to think so).
She left the window in a rush of excitement. Digging through her bag and pulling out another pink tracksuit. It was nearly identical to the one she currently wore, but cleaner.
She had decided that she was in desperate need of a shower. Unfortunately, in turning the shower on, all that spewed out was water a nasty shade of brown...
So, she would have to ask Quackity about that... That's fine. She would skip the shower for today All the sooner she would get to introduce herself to her new neighbor!
She threw on the clean outfit, running her hands through her slightly disgusting hair. Promptly deciding there was absolutely no way it was going to look good. Not in the state she was in.
After realizing she never did plug in her phone, she decided to leave it behind to charge. It's not like anything would happen in the few hours she would be out!
Just as she stepped outside, the commotion was calming down. Quackity had given the man a cigarette, seemingly a peace offering. It had just barely worked. The man still stared like he wanted the world to burn, but he inhaled the smoke nevertheless.
Katie took it upon herself to make her presence known. She hopped down the rickety stairs, throwing her backpack over her shoulder. She grinned, eyes practically sparking with excitement as she waved at quackity.
Of course, she was nervous, but she had always been an extravert.
Even when she had no friends throughout...pretty much her whole life. She had always loved talking to others, meeting new people.
Even if that new person seemed to be an abusive raging alcoholic!
She was sure he just had a rough exterior if anything. Some people were troubled, it didn't mean they were all bad.
As soon as she made eye contact with Quackity, she started waving, probably too enthusiastically.
Then she laid eyes on the other man, she could see him better from here. He really was wearing a full suit, dressed proper, even though the rest of him screamed 'grubby alcoholic'.
She reached them, rocking on her heels with her hands behind her back. She grinned ear to ear. "Hellooo neighbor!" She drew out her words, the way an overly excitable child would.
The man turned slowly to face Quackity, jaw tense with frustration. He shot Quackity a look that could mean nothing besides him wanting to murder the shorter man.
Katie didn't take the lack of a response as a signal to leave, only that he had forgotten to respond. So she extended her arm with too much excitement, attempting to start a handshake. "My name is Katie, Katie b! You can also call me such things as uhh...boss, best friend, big dog-!"
Jschlatt found no humor in her actions, he only scoffed, flicking the remains of his half smoked cigarette at her. Before promptly turning, and slamming his door behind him.
Whereas Quackity, ever easily entertained, bit back a smile at her actions. He chuckled, clapping her on the back. "Ehh...you'll get to him someday, yea? For now, you can focus on the more...friendly faces of the town?" These faces didn't exist, Quackity only had her best interest in mind. That interest meant she would have to be alone forever.
He used his hand on her back to gently guide her away from the home.
She furrowed her eyebrows, eyes focused on the man's house before she hesitantly turned her focus back to Quackity. She quickly brought back her smile. "Friendly faces you say? Well I would love to meet them! If you could direct me to the best, coolest hangout spots I would-"
Quackity interrupted her incessant yammering with a dismissive hum. He still used his hand to guide her, turning her right back around to the direction of her home.
She kept her eyes on him, stumbling slightly as she was pushed, yet her excited expression never faltered. "Where are we going first then? I didn't think there was much this way besides my house, I mean it's kinda just a bunch of open grass!"
Quackity clicked his teeth, shaking his head slightly as he led her to her front door, opening it and pushing her inside. He wasn't rough, or violent. He was just firm. "Home, Katie, you're going home. There are no friendly faces here. This fucking town is not right for you! These assholes, they'll eat you alive. You have a good spirit, they will suck that shit out of you!"
She stepped forward, stopping him from shutting the door before he could even start. "Woah woah! Come on! I'm plenty capable, and I'm sure your being dramatic, I mean- everyone I've met so far has been lovely!"
He stared at her, as if he couldn't believe her naivety. He laughed through his words. "Oh my god, Katie. 𝘐 am the 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 person you've met. Just trust me, stay home, relax, get back on your feet and then leave this shit town."
She wanted to argue, to tell him that she was capable, she could do it. She just didn't want to fight. So instead she crossed her arms and shrugged. "Alright, alright...I hear you. I'll just stay here... chill- Oh! My water is like, brown? Maybe you could fix that?"
He seemed relieved that she had listened. Then disgusted at the state of the water she described. "Fuckin- Jesus. Yea, as your landlord I guess that's my responsibility. You just, stay here and I'll grab some tools to fix it up."
Katie watched him walk away, she watched closely. Until he turned the corner. Now leaving to explore the town was fair game.
Katie had never been one to listen to anyone. Another reason why she barely graduated. Another reason why she wasn't exactly the favorite child.
She was 18 now, she moved out, (technically, kicked out, but she's still in denial) pretty much the only good factor through all of this, is that she can do what she wants.
So once again, she swung her bag over her shoulder and began her adventure through the town.
-----
She was quick to realize that the place really was, kind of shitty. Most of the shops were closed down. She would see the occasional person walking around, but they barely spared a glance her way.
She looked ahead, squinting to read a sign, it was a tourist trap of a shop, named 'The Polish Cave'...kinda weird, as they were in the middle of America. Still, it seemed more interesting then anything else she had passed.
She opened the door, the chimes rang in a way that sounded like they were half broken. She scrunched up her face at the sound, glancing around.
The store was crowded, not with people, just with shelves of too much of stuff that nobody could ever want.
Nobody, besides Katie of course.
Her eyes widened with childlike excitement. She walked around the shelves, rows upon rows of candy and snacks in a language she didn't know.
Anyone else would have clocked that it was overpriced scam garbage, but Katie had not yet reached the stage of adulthood where scams looked like scams(really, she probably never would). To her, it was just slightly overpriced fun.
Turning the corner, eyes drawn to the shelves, she bumped into who she presumed to be the store owner.
Her eyes shot up, she couldn't help the pang of nerves that shot through her. Quackity had warned her, not that she wanted to believe him. It's just that he had strictly said that 𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 here was anything good.
She immediately decided that Quackity was anything but right. Because she didn't meet eyes with a villainous biker, or an old guy covered in tattoos.
No, she met eyes with a man that couldn't have been much older then her, and he was just beaming at her. Like she was the greatest thing to ever enter his shop.
His voice was heavy with a polish accent, he talked fast with excitement, leaning in close to her. "You are new, oh my god! Nobody ever comes here! You must have some of my candy, I will pay for first time customer!"
Unlike most would, when a strange man offers you candy. She matched his energy. Her eyes lit up. She knew Quackity had been wrong, he was just harsh. This guy was the best!
She rocked on the balls of her feet, beaming right back at him. "Oh my god, you're litterly the best! I would love your free special candy!"
He didn't hesitate to pull a random bag, opening it and pouring some into her hands. Not very different from how a kindergartener would share their snacks. "My name is Ewroon, I run this shop, and I will give you free candy anytime you want it!"
She stared at him with matched excitement, dropping half the candy into her mouth. It was kind of disgusting, liquorish. Nobody really liked liquorish, it was the kind of candy adults would eat to feel special.
Still, she hasn't eaten since breakfast the day before, so she swallowed them down.
She spoke, mouth full of candy. "My name is Katie, and I think you and I are going to be getting along amazingly!"
He stood up straighter, with the same excitement "Oh my god, I think that too!"
Katie was confident now, both in her own ability to socialize, and that everyone in this town was amazing. Her confidence showed in the way she spoke. "Well- Ewroon" She hardly pronounced his name right. "Since you seem to be the most amazing person in this town...would you happen to know a good place for a girl like your truly to make some cash?"
He hesitated as he placed a bag of candy, restocking the shelves. Before he smiled again, nodding as if he understood. "Ohh...You do sex work, yes?"
Her mind worked overtime to process what he had just said, before swiftly shaking her head. "So- no...I have not yet gone down that path...I mean like, a normal job? Customer service and stuff!" She was almost honored, was she hot enough to be a sex worker? Damn.
He seemed unfazed by his wrong suggestion. Only nodding along, still smiling even as he broke the news "Oh, nobody here will hire you!"
She blinked at the man for a moment, giving a laugh to fill the silence. Her voice was defensive. "And...why would that be?" She squinted, almost offended.
He gestured to her, shrugging. The light in his eyes never dimmed. "You are too new, nobody trusts anybody here anymore. I say the most you could do would be odd jobs."
She lit up again, waving a hand dismissively. He clearly had her best interest in mind! "Oh, I can handle an odd job, I can take whatever someone throws my way!"
He hummed happily, gesturing through the door and to the left. "Maximus, he knows everything about everybody! You will make easy money around here, nobody wants to do their own work."
She nodded along to everything he said. Eager to make enough money to be able to buy a real meal.
She turned swiftly on her heels and waved goodbye, of course not before grabbing the bag of candy. She decided it didn't count as stealing, because he has not tried to stop her.
Maybe this town wasn't the shit hole that it looked like. Quackity had looked after her. Even if he was rough, he had ment well. Even better, Ewroon was probably the kindest person she had ever met!
Now, she sought out to find Maximus, because she hadn't really gotten directions...more of a vague gesture.
Still, she was confident that she would make it. Because this was the best mood she has been in since she was nine years old!
Such a good mood, in fact, that she didn't take notice of the countless missing person posters scattered along the walls.
Or the half broken cameras that hung on street corners.
Or the way it felt like eyes watched her at every moment.